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•wkere tkey migkf pray together." F. 26>. 

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MEMOIR 



OF 



FLORENCE KIDDER, 



WHO DIED 



IN MEDFORD, MASS., APRIL, 1832, 






N../ 




C-" ' It 



BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED BY PEIRCE AND PARKER, 

No. 9, Cornhill, 
NEWYORK: — H. C. SLEIGHT, 

Clinton Hall. 

1832. 



I'll-' 



Entered, according to Act of Congress; in the year 1832; by 

Peirce & Parker, 
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 



/^^^ 



r 



INTRODUCTION 



Nothing affords to the Christian a fuller evi- 
dence of the truth and the surpassing value of 
his religion than its practical efficacy. — Espe- 
cially its practical influence in seasons of trial. 
Nor is there any other system of religion which 
can bear a comparison with the Christian faith 
in this respect. 

Were there as many infidels who die in tri- 
umph as there are Christians, one source of 
evidence of the system of the cross would be 
annihilated and the mind might be perplexed 
between contending testimony. 



IV INTRODUCTION. 

But though there may be solitary instances 
of quiet, or stupid indifference as the result of 
infidelity or of erroneous views of religion, they 
stand visibly wide from the peace and high el- 
evation of soul which spring out of a belief of 
the religion of the cross — whenever, and where- 
ever, it has been embraced. 

The chamber, where the believer in the 
atoning efiicacy of the blood of Christ dies, is 
light and peaceful above every other scene of 
departure from this world. It is when Jesus 
is seen sitting on the right hand of God that 
heaven opens, and the soul full of the Holy 
Ghost mounts upv/ard in joyful flight. There 
is no other place to go from earth to heaven so 
privileged as this. 

Were there a solitary instance of infidelity, 
that had run the benevolent career of Paul, and 
died in the majesty of infidel triumph, as Paul 
died under the influence of Christian principles, 
we should hardly know what to think. B ut 
there are no such careers of benevolent and dy- 



INTRODUCTION. V 

ing infidelity. This is true, to a greater or 
less degree when apphed to all false systems. 
God speaks in his providence the same as in 
his revelation. 

" The Path of the just ^ (not the path of er- 
ror) is as the shining light that shineth more 
and more to the perfect day." 

Practical results will tell ; on a great scale 
where truth lies. In this point of view then, 
the religion of Christ must be true. There is 
no other course so light with God's approbation 
as this. From the death of Christ till this day 
there is testimony repeated and loud to the ef- 
ficacy of Christian truth. A host unnumbered 
Hft up their voice and cry, " This is the way, 
the truth, and the life." 

So it was the case of the following narrative. 
On the hps of childhood, praise was perfected 
in death. 

Age and middle fife, little children, all, may 
look and learn, from this case what is truth. 
We cannot but remark too, how adapted is the 



VI INTRODUCTION. 

religion of the gospel to all minds. The cross 
of Christ is eminently a system which "suffers 
little children to come unto it and forbids them 
not." It is not so with most other systems. 
Human wisdom seems unable to invent any 
error which shall meet the wants and intellect 
of the highest and yet be easy to the weakness 
of the child. But so plain are the doctrines of 
the cross, that a little child can understand 
them, and draw from them the purest and 
richest consolations. It was so in the case of 
this little child. She leaned on these doctrines 
with a confidence as entire, and a soul as trans- 
ported, as Paul, when "in a strait betwixt 
two, and desiring to depart, he wot not what 
to choose." 

We wish the readers of this little book to look 
at this narrative, and to learn from it not only 
the value of the religion of Christ, but to mark 
the weight of evidence, which such practical 
results in death, give to views such as were en- 
tertained by this child. Let the reader ask 



INTRODUCTION. Vn 

himselfj if there are any other views, which are 
stamped with evidence so repeated and signal 
from God ; any others which have so triumph- 
ed in suffering and (feath as these. 

Hoping that this httle book may subserve 
the interests of true piety, and be made of spe- 
cial service to youth and children, it is submit- 
ted to the reader. 

A. Warner. 

Medford, June, 1832. 



CHAPTER I 



The subject of the following narrative, Flo- 
rence Kidder, was the daughter of Mr, Thomp- 
son and Mrs. Mary A. Kidder, of Medford, a 
village about five miles from Boston. Her 
father and mother are both members of the 
church in Medford, where they have resided 
for the last eight years. 

Florence was born in Boston, December 30, 
1820. She had been the subject of parental 
religious instruction from her early childhood, 
and had attended the Sabbath School most of 
the time since she was old enough to do so. 

She w^as a child of amiable manners and of 
quick and tender sympathies. No peculiar se- 
riousness however was visible, till some time in 
the summer of 1831, 



10 MEMOIR OF 

Miss Brighanij her instructress in the Med- 
ford High School, speaks of Florence in the fol- 
lowing manner. 

^ From my earliest acquaintance with her, 
she seemed disposed to listen to religious con- 
versation, and frequently came to me with en- 
quiries of what was her duty, and if the indul- 
gence of various little habits common to chil- 
dren, was ginful. She was always remarkable 
for openness and sincerity of character, and 
though naturally of a quick temper, always 
sought to make reparation for any wrong she 
had done, as soon as the excitement of the mo- 
ment had subsided. Previously to her becom- 
ing, as we believed, a Christian, she seemed to 
possess an acute sense of right and wrong, and 
would often come to me and confess she had 
transgressed some regulation of the school, or 
spoken unkindly of me, for requiring something 
she did not like to perform, and say, ' I have 
not been happy since ; will you forgive me V 

But it was not until some tirpe in June, 1831, 
that she manifested any particular anxiety in 
relation to her immortal welfare. Though she 
frequently, when conversed with, assented to 
the necessity of a change of heart, and of pre- 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 11 

paration for death, she never appeared to feel 
her need of a Saviour until the period I have 
mentioned. 1 was first apprised of her state of 
feeling by finding upon my desk a note addres- 
sed to me, which on opening I found contain- 
ed as nearly as I can recollect, the following 
words — 

" My dear teacher, I am a lost sinner, can 
you tell me what I shall do to be saved ? 

F. Kidder." 

I looked up and saw her face bathed in tears. 
(Several other notes of similar import accompa- 
nied hers.) During the devotional exercises 
of that morning, she seemed overwhelmed with 
a sense of her guilt, and, regardless of the pres- 
ence of many, whom she could not expect to 
sympathize with her, she wept without re- 
straint, and sobbed aloud. When prayers were 
over, I called her tome, and endeavored to say 
what I thought necessary to one under the in- 
fluence of emotions so interesting. — In answer to 
my inquiries, what at that time made her so anx- 
ious for salvation, she said, ^' When I was so sick 
a few days ago, I thought perhaps I should die, 
and if I did, I knew I could not go to heaven, 
unless my sins were forgiven, and I determined 



12 MEMOtH 0¥ 

then to try and be a Christian." I took her 
Bible, and marked such passages as I thought 
would convince her still more deeply of her 
guiltj and others which invited sinners to Christ, 
with promises of acceptance to all who were 
truly penitent. That morning, she visited her 
pastor, accompanied by several others. For 
several weeks following she continued evident- 
ly under strong convictions, and listened with 
the utmost eagerness to religious conversation 
and instruction. Her Bible and Village Hymn 
book were her constant companions, during the 
leisure moments she had after her. allotted tasks 
were performed. I do not recollect that she 
expressed any hope that she was a Christian, 
until some days after the protracted meeting in 
this place. This intelhgence, as was her cus- 
tom, she communicated to me in the following 
note. 

" I believe, my dear teacher, I have found Je- 
sus, and given my heart to him. If it was 
God's will that I should die now, I think 1 
should not be afraid, for I believe Christ would 
take me to himself in glory." 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 13 



CHAPTER II, 



From this period to the commencement of 
that illnessj which terminated her hfe, she con- 
tinued to manifest a deep interest in rehgious 
subjects. She was always regular in her at- 
tendance at the prayer meeting established by 
me for those at that time anxiously inquiring 
the way of salvation. At these meetings it 
was my custom to select such short pieces for 
reading as were adapted to their understand- 
ings and feelings. I encouraged their asking 
questions, and was often surprised and gratified 
to find in the questions proposed by Florence, 
evidence so strong, of deep thought and feeling 
upon the subject. She seemed to feel that re- 
ligion was to enter into the every day employ- 
ments of her life, and frequently remarked, 
" Miss B. we must give an account of all the 
deeds done in the body." — On one occa- 
sion, a companion nearly of her own age was 



44 MEMOIR OF 

detected in an untruth. This was a fault I al- 
ways reproved with severity ; and after I had 
dismissed the offender, I expressed the pain I 
felt, at finding one of my pupils guilty of a sin, 
against which God had manifested such signal 
marks of his displeasure. Florence seemed 
deeply to feel the wickedness of which her 
school-mate had been guilty ; and in a letter 
written a few days afterward to a friend, she 
expressed her sorrow, that one who was profess- 
ing to seek for salvation should commit so 
great a sin against God. At the seasons of re- 
cess, she with another to whom she was much 
attached, was in the habit of retiring at a dis- 
tance from the school-room, with such of their 
companions as they could persuade to go with 
them for prayer ; a practice which was contin- 
ued as long as the weather would allow them 
to be abroad ; and afterwards they held meet- 
ings at noon in the school-room, or, if any were 
there who did not wish to join them, in anoth- 
er room. She remarked to me one day that 

she feared was not a Christian, although 

she thought herself one, for said she, " her tem- 
per is as bad as ever, and I think she does not 
always speak the truth." I had tried much to 



FLORENCE KIDDER. ' 15 

impress upon the minds of F. and others the 
importance of faithfulness in the discharge of 
every duty ; I had told them if they were re- 
ally Christians, they would be more obedient 
to parents^ teachers and those who had the care 
of them, and more affectionate to brothers, sis 
ters and companions. Florence appeared con- 
vinced that this was a necessary consequence 
of conversion, and she said " I do try Miss B., to 
be more obedient, and to govern my temper ; 
do you think I am as impatient and fretful as 
I used sometimes to be ?" xlfter pausing for a 
time as if in deep thought, said " do you think 
Miss B. if I have repented of my sins and God 
has forgiven them, that at the Judgment day 
they v/ill be brought up and every body will 
know them ?" I replied, that the Bible said, 
" Every work must be brought into judgment, 
with every secret thing, vv^iether it be good or 
bad.^ " But it also says," she answered, " That 
he will remember their sins no more, and will 
blot out their transgressions ;and I supposed it was 
only sins not repented of, that were brought in- 
to judgment." She thought much of the im- 
portance of prayer and said she believed she 
loved to pray now, for she never forgot it as she 



16 MEMOIR OF 

used to — that she often prayed for the conver- 
sion of her companions, and that they might 
not grieve the Spirit to forsake them — that for 
herself, she feared if she had not become a 
Christian then she never should, for the Bible 
said, " My Spirit shall not always strive with 
man," ' 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 17 



CHAPTER III. 



It was during the period of her pecuUar re- 
ligious impressions that she first fell under my 
more immediate personal instructions. 

Her mind I found deeply impressed with a 
sense of her guilt and earnestly alive to the in- 
terests of her soul. 

On the morning alluded to by her instruc- 
tresSj. she came to my house with several others 
of the school. Her mind seemed deeply en- 
gaged in her spiritual concerns. 

The particulars of her conversation I did not 
treasure up, but well recollect that it was a 
scene of uncommon interest. Nor did I then 
doubt that it was divine influence which had 
awakened the attention of th-ese little ones to 
eternal things. 

She listened with peculiar attention to what 
I said to her and went away with a heavy 
heart and her eyes full of tears. This was 



18 MEMOIR OF 

the first visit she made me. She afterward 
came often and always appeared truly intent 
on learning her duty, and anxious to be a Chris- 
tian. She often expressed a great desire to con- 
verse with me on the subject of religion,, but 
seemed fearful lest she should occupy too much 
of my time. 

Her anxiety to be present at religious meet- 
ings will be seen by a little note which she 
addressed to her mother. 

There was to be an inquiry meeting in the 
evening, and her little heart was strongly set 
upon attending it. Her father's house being 
some distance from the meeting, she addressed 
her mother in the following simple and affec- 
tionate manner. 

My Dear Mother, 

" I have one thing to tell you. E — — and 
I went up to Mr. W.'s to have him pray for us ; 
and he said he wanted us to go to the inquiry 
meeting. He talked with us; and I shall 
have God for my friend. He is my staff, and 
I am not afraid to die. I want to go to meet- 
ing to night, for he has saved me. 



FLORENCE KIBDER. 19 

Do this for me, dear mother, and I will be a 
more godly child. 

From your daughter 

Florence." 

She began about this time to indulge the 
hope, that God had given her a new heart. 
She said she hoped she loved God ; and she 
believed she did, for she loved to pray to him. 
Her father, one day, in conversation with her, 
asked her, why Nathan Dickerman should 
have a new heart, while so many other chil- 
dren did not have such a heart ? 

She readily replied, " Because he wanted 
it." 



20 



MEMOIR OF 



CHAPTER IV. 



It was her practice frequently to meet with 
her companions who were serious for the pur- 
pose of holding with them a' prayer meeting. 
This practice began early in her seriousness, 
as has teen remarked by her instructress. One 
day, while sitting in school, she was observed 
to weep and to manifest deep anxiety of mind. 
One of her companions, seeing this, asked her, 
what was the matter. 

She replied, that ^she did not love God, and 
that was the reason why she wept.' 

She then asked her companion to go with 
her into the woods, where they might pray to- 
gether. And when they were in the woods 
alone, Florence continued to weep, as she knelt 
down with her friend and earnestly prayed to 
God, that he would give her a new heart. 

Ever after the change in her feelings she 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 21 

was in the habit of continuing these meetings 
with a few of her companions. 

In a retired spot in the woods about one 
fourth of a mile from her father's is the place 
where she withdrew to offer up her prayers, to 
read her Bible, and sing her hymns. 

Here, surrounded on all sides by a grove of 
fir trees, and closely shut in by the thick foli- 
age ; she engaged in the service which, no 
doubt, will be her theme of endless delight. 

As I stood on the spot where she had kneel- 
ed and prayed, I could not but reflect, how ap- 
propriate it is to worship the God of all this 
beautiful scenery by which I am surrounded. 
It was the Bible indeed, which opened the 
heart of this little child, and enkindled a new 
and holy interest in her soul. It was the cross 
of Christ, on which she delighted to linger. 
But it was in the secluded grove, that even this 
theme come over her heart more full and fresh 
with joy. — The story once told me of her 
grandfather by a gentleman in this place came 
fresh to my recollection ; and I could not but 
feel that the prayers of the grandparent were 
answered on the child, and that the spirit of 



22 MEMOIR OF 

the aged saint, long since in glory, was indeed 
upon this his distant descendant. 

" One day, wishing to see Deacon Kidder," 
said he, " I went into the woods where he was 
at work. 

As I drew near to the place all was still ; I 
went on however, for I saw by the trees 
that were cut down, that he had been there. 
When I came close to the spot I heard some 
one talking. I went to the place, and what 
should I see there, but the good Deacon K. on 
his knees in prayer ! I turned away deeply 
affected with the sight, and left him to his 
prayers." 

Was it not here, that God answered a prayer 
offered up by this saint in the woods, on the 
third generation, and fashioned the heart of 
little Florence to a sympathy with one whom 
she never knew 1 

Doubtles these kindred souls now worship 
together above. 

Often with her Bible and Hymn Book, she 
would retire to this spot, or, if the weather did 
not permit, to her chamber at home to read 
and pray with her companions. 

What an example to older Christians and 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 23 

to all the readers of this little memoir ! Did 
Christians ripe in years follow this example, it 
would give life to their social piety, and elevate 
high their Christian intercourse. 



24 MEMOIR OF 



CHAPTER V 



She used also often to ask her mother to go 
with her into a retired chamber and pray with 
her. 

Often when visited by some of her compan- 
ions she would ask permission to be absent 
from the family, as they then supposed to play 
with them. But it was afterwards ascertained, 
that her object was to retire for a season of 
prayer, that she might do them good. This 
practice of retiring for prayer, sometimes alone, 
and sometimes with her companions, was con- 
tinued with greater or less frequency, until her 
last sickness. She always manifested great 
anxiety lest she herself should be deceived as 
to her hope ; and also much concern for the 
spiritual welfare of her little companions, who 
were serious at the same time with her. She 
had many fears lest some of them should go 
back again to the world, and lose their reli- 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 25 

gious impressions. She was therefore accus- 
tomed to converse much with them and to 
write them letters on the subject of reUgion. 
From two or three of her letters I make the 
following extracts. Speaking of some, in 
whom she felt particularly interested, she says, 
" I feel so dreadfully, if they should obtain a 
false hope, which would be worse than before 
they were serious." Concerning one in partic- 
ular, whose name she mentions, she says " I 

think, by the outward appearance, H is 

a Christian ; but then, we can tell only on the 
outward appearance, but God looketh on the 
heart. How much difference" she says, " there 
is between the Christian and the sinner. I 
hope and pray, that none of us may have false 
hopes, but God will guide us if we believe in 
his name." The letter from which the above 
extracts were made, was dated Oct. 10, 1831. 
I have before me another letter, dated Oct. 11, 
1831, which shows how great was her spiritual 
enjoyment at that time. She begins her letter 
by saying " I do hope that none of us may 
have false hopes. I pray for you a great deal 
in my mind : and it seems as though my 
prayers ascended up to the throne of grace. 
3 



26 MEMOIR OP 

! E. — - it seems now as though I was 

in Heaven with my Saviour. Now he is mine, 
and I am his. It seems as though I could see 
my Saviour pouring down blessings more than 

1 can receive, upon me. Our verse in the Bi- 
ble yesterday, was ^ Salvation belongeth unto 
the Lord ; thy blessing is upon thy people.' 
And to day ^ Hear me when I call, O God of 
my righteousness ; thou hast enlarged me 
when I was in distress ; have mercy upon me, 
and hear my prayer.'" So far was she from 
being satisfied with her attainments in piety 
that she often manifested great anxiety as to 
her Christian character, lest after all\ she might 
be deceived as to her hopes. Yet her conduct 
in the view of those who best knew her, was 
uniformly such as to inspire the strongest con- 
fidence that she was a true child of God. 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 27 



CHAPTER VI 



Her little Bible, to which she was fondly at- 
tached, and which she often perused, bears 
ample evidence that it was a book she loved. 

^' It looks," said a gentleman to me, " like an 
old minister's Bible every where marked with 
the pencil." 

On the margin her little hand has drawn 
the lines which tell very plainly that her intel- 
lect and her heart were in her readings. 

While turning over the leaves I could not 
but feel, what I have often felt before, how 
much real Christians are alike in every age. 

There was something evidently in her bosom 
which responded to the feelings of him, who 
lived a Christian on the hill of Zion near three 
thousand years ago. Here was a practical il* 
lustration, how David felt when he wrote rauch 
of the 119tli Psalm; — how he felt when in 



28 MEMOIR OF 

the 19th Ps. he gave utterance to his feeUngs, 
as beautifully versified by Watts. 

*' I love the volume of thy word ; 
What light and joy those leaves afford 
To souls benighted and distressed." 

" Thy threatenings make me truly wise, 
And warn me where my danger lies ; 
But 'tis thy blessed gospel, Lord, 
That makes my guilty conscience clean, 
Converts my soul, subdues my sin, 
And gives the free, but large reward.'* 

This was the feeling which deeply pervaded 
her bosom, as her Bible still remains to testify 
— a spirit which in her and in others is a spirit 
just bordering on heaven. 

It is when the heart moves in unison with 
all revealed truth in the Bible, that it is made 
meet for an inheritance with the saints in 
light. 

That child, or that aged professor, who does 
not love the Bible much, is very far from the 
spirit of David and of this little child — very 
far from heaven. 

God talks to us in the Bible, and he who 
loves God will love to hear him speak. 

How many of my readers neyer have loved 
their Bibles, so bs to mark the precious spots 



^ FLORENCE KIDDER. 29 

like this little child, and to dwell on them with 
the glowing ardor of her youthful soul. 

It was with the same love to the Bible that 
she promised, before I left home for the winter, 
to commit one verse of the scripture every morn- 
ing. I commenced with a number of the little 
ones of my charge who were seriously inquir- 
ing at this time, among whom was Florence. 

She was always ready to engage in any ex- 
ercise of this kind, and seemed pleased to be 
put upon a course^ which would lead her to 
know more of the word of God. 

I have been deeply interested in taking her 
little Bible and remarking the verses that are 
crossed by her pencil. 

The 3d verse of the fifth Psalm she has 
marked : " My voice shalt thou hear in the 
morning J O Lord : in the moi^hing will 1 
direct my sprayer unto thee^ and will look 
upP 

I cannot doubt but all this was true in her 
practice, and that this verse was the utterance, 
the simple utterance of her feelings. 

She did lift up her voice in the morning to 

God, and her prayer was heard. 

Another passage marked is Isaiah 26 : 3, 4. 
^3 



30 



MEMOIR OF 



" Thou ivilt keep hiTU in perfect peace^ 
whose mind is stayed on thee : because he 
trusteth in theeP 

" Trust ye in the Lord forever : for in 
the Lord Jehovah is everlastifig strength,^^ 

How this was made true, in her case, will 
be seen in the conclusion of this narrative. 

Seldom is a peace more perfect, exhibited in 
the closing scene of life, than was seen in hers. I 

Nor was her trust in God that vague and un- 
defined confidence which is so often exhibit- 
ed in many death scenes. 

There was a definite trust in the mercy of 
God, inspired by, or grounded on, the deep feel- 
ing that she was a lost sinner. She mourned 
over her guilt and ingratitude, and went back 
to her father God, nothing doubting, that she 
was forgiven and loved by him still. 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 31 



CHAPTER Vn 



I was often struck Avith the promptness of 
her answers to my questions. It is now more 
evident to me than it was theUj that they were 
the simple dictates of her heart. 

" Did you always love God ?" I enquired. 
" Noj /S'ir," was the answer. " Did you once 
love to think of God and heaven ?" No, Sir. 
"Did you once love to kneel down and hear 
your father pray for you at night ?" No, Sir. 

" But how do you feel now when all your 
little brothers and sisters come to prayers ?" 

" I love now to hear my father pray." The 
same state of feeling is illustrated by an inci- 
dent which took place, during a protracted 
meeting held in this town at the time of her 
hopeful change. 

Her father invited all his children, during 
the intermission of services, at noon, to meet 



32 



MEMOIR OF 



him in a retired chamber for prayer and read- 
ing the Bible. Several of them attended. As 
it was left to them to do as they pleased, some 
were absent at times, while little Florence was 
always there. 

We co\jld wish that all parents and chil- 
dren might often imitate this example. Let 
them thus retire and pray together if they hope 
to mingle their souls in heaven . 

The same readiness to reply to my questions 
was apparent in respect to other points of re- 
ligious experience. 

" Do you love to have the Sabbath come, 
Florence?" "Yes, Sir. Once it seemed a 
long day, but now it don't. I love to think 
that the Sabbath day has come." 

Such were her feelings in respect to the day 
which once hung heavy on her hands. She 
had, it seems, a conscientious regard to this 
day, as well as a love to its hours and its ser- 
vices. 

Her father's house is more than half a mile 
from the church. This distance at times she 
used to walk with her little companions. And 
one of them observed to me a few days since : 

" Before Florence was serious, she used on 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 



^3 



the Sabbath to talk of every thing while walk- 
ing to church, but after her change, she talked 
of religion." 

" Out of the abundance of the heart, the 
mouth speaketh," is not less true of children 
than others. 

I shall long remember her attentive and ea- 
ger look, as she used to come into my vestry at 
the evening service, and seat herself very near 
to the desk, to listen to the word of life. 

Her eye was evidently expressive of the 
feeUngs of her heart, and that heart was full of 
feeling. It was easy to speak the word of 
truth when there were many like her hang- 
ing on the lips of the speaker for instruction. 

Often did I see the tear run down her cheek 
as the promises of kindness and love from 
Christ were told on her hearing. 

She wiped away her tears and went home 
with a light heart, when I told her, Christ 
died for sinners ; and that the same Jesus who 
took little children into his arms, was as ready 
and as willing to bless her as them. It was 
easy to perceive that this w^as a theme which 
quieted her troubled heart. . 



34 ^ MEMOIR OF 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Many of her companions will, I hope, long 
remember, how much she thought of Christ, 
and how she was accustomed to repeat some 
favorite hymns. 

The following is one which she used to re- 
peat in seasons of despondency and doubt. 

Tis a point I long to know/ 

Oft it causes anxious thought : — 

Do I love the Lord or no ? 
Am I his, or am I not ? 

If I love, why am I thus ? 

Why this dull, this lifeless frame ? 
Hardly, sure, can they be worse, 

Who have never heard his name. 

Could my heart so hard remain, 
Pray'r a task and burden prove— 

Ev'ry trifle give me pain — 
li I knew a Saviour's love ? 

When I turn mine eyes within, 
All is dark, and vain, and wild ; 

Fill'd with unbelief and sin — 
Can I deem myself a child ? 



FLORENCE KIBDEU. 35 



if I pray, or hear, or read, 
Sin is mix'd with all I do ; 

You who Jove the Lord indeed, 
Tell me— is it thus with you ? 

Yet I mourn my stubborn will, 
Find my sin a i^rief and thrall ; 

Should I grieve for what I feel, 
If I did not love at all ! 

Lord decide the doubtful case ! 

Thou who art thy people's Sun: 
Shine upon thy work of grace, 

If it be indeed begun. 

Let me love thee more and moroj 

If I love at all, I pray ; 
If 1 have not lov'd before. 

Help me to begin to-day. 



Another, which illustrates her feeling in res- 
pect to the manner in which she expected to 
be saved, is this. 



As the serpent, raised by Moses, 
Heal'd the burning serpent's bite } 

Jesus thus himself discloses 
To the wounded sinner's sight. 

Hear his gracious invitation : 
*' I have life and peace to give ; 

I have wrought out full salvation 
Sinner, look to me and live. 

You had been forever wretched, 
Had I not espous'd your part : 

Now, behold my arms outstretched, 
To receive you to my heart. 



36 MEMOIR OF 

Well may shame, and joy, and wonder, 
All your inward passions move ; 

I could crush you with my thunder, 
But I speak to you in love." 

Dearest Saviour, we adore thee 
For thy precious life and death ; 

Melt each stubborn heart before thee, 
Give us all the eye of faith. 

These hymns, of her own selection, show 
how her mind was operating during her short 
preparation for heaven. Happy child to ripen 
for glory so soon, and to enter into undisturbed 
rest ! 



i 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 37 



CHAPTER IX 



Another practice to which allusion has been 
made, was to retire with her companions to talk 
and pray with them. 

" She told me/' says one, " to love God, and 
she asked me, if I should die to night, if 1 
thought I should go to heaven. She said she 
thought she was prepared." 

She told me, says another, "that I must love 
God, and when I died I should go to heaven — ^ 
I must keep his commandments, serve him^ 
and then I should be happy — Pray every night 
and morning in faith. She prayed with me," 
&c. &c." 

Says a third, " She told me to love and serve 
God, that I might, when I died, go to heaven^ 
and live with the angels." 

From these few remarks yet remembered by 
her companions, it is evident she did not forget 
to do good. 
4 



38 MEMOIR OF 

May not these dear childrenj nor any who 
read this book, forget the exhortations of her 
youthful Hps. 

Such were her feehngs and efforts, while she 
was ripening fast for the kingdom of God. 

She labored and prayed to bring others to 
feel the happiness she felt, and she had the 
pleasure to see some loving her God and Re- 
deemer. 

She has gone a little before them to enter 
upon the joys, which they too will soon possess, 
if they live and die like her. 

It is evident that she was led to think of 
death as not distant. One of her favorite 
hymns discloses her feelings in this particular 
while she was yet in health. 

Oft as the bell with solemn toll, 
Speaks the departure of a soul, 
Let each one ask himself, '^ Am 1 
Prepared should I be called to die ? 

Only this frail and fleeting breath 
Preserves me from the jaws of death ; 
Soon as it fails at once I'm gone, 
And plung'd into a world unknown. 

Then leaving all I lov'd below, 

To God's tribunal I must go ; 

Must hear the Judge pronounce my fate, 

And fix my everlasting state." 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 39 

Lord Jesus ! help me now to flee, 
And seek my hope alone in thee ; 
Apply thy blood, thy Spirit give — 
Subdue my sins and let me live. 

Then when the solemn bell I hear, 
If saved from guilt, I need not fear ; 
Nor would the thought distressing be, 
Perhaps it next may toll for me. 

By such thoughts as this hymn is calculated 
to inspire, death was not unexpected or dread- 
ful when it came. 

It was, as will be seen, only for her to go 
home — -to the place of her strongest desires. 

She felt, indeed, that she had earthly friend- 
ships, but friendships more precious in heaven, 
there too she hoped to renew her acquaintance 
and her intercourse with all her dear friends 
yet in this world. God had given her such a 
clear and affecting view of heaven, that it 
seemed little for her to relinquish life. 

I remember to have inquired of Florence 
long before her death, if she thought she 
should be pleased to leave the world and to go 
and live with Christ. She did not hesitate to 
reply. " Ye^, SirP 

What ! would you be willing to leave your 
father and mother and all your friends ? ^^ Yes, 



40 MEMOIR OF 

Sir.^ It was easy to perceive in her, even 
when hope first began to dawn in her hearty 
that it was full of immortality. 

The sioeetness of home was all identified 
with the place, where God and Christ and 
angels dwelt. 

Never have I seen, as in her, and in little 
ones of the same age, such perfect peace, in 
their reliance on the love of Christ. They 
seem to cast themselves into the arms of his 
kindness, as they throw themselves into the 
embrace of earthly parents, and all their fears 
are hushed. It was very manifest in the case 
of Florence, that she derived increasing confi- 
dence in all her approaches to God, that he 
would be her father and her God. " I went 
away and frayed^ and I felt as though God 
would forgive me,'^ was her reply, when I used 
to ask her, what made her feel so differently 
from what she once felt. 

While I am sitting in my study, I seem 
again to renew these happy scenes of my pas- 
toral life, and to gather these little lambs of the 
flock of Christ into my arms — I see them 
kneel down together, and lay their little faces 



flohence kidder. 41 

on the green sofa, still standing on the spot, 
where I committed them to God. 

Yes, it was here that this little one now 
gone to God, began to lift up her heart with 
intense delight. That Pastor knows but a 
part of the pleasure of his work, who has 
never had the happiness of guiding the little 
children of his charge to Christ. 

Their confidence once gained, and they 
pour out their hearts in all the simplicity of 
childhood, and awake the purest and happiest 
feelings in any heart, which is not most unlike 
its master, who, in heavenly kindness, took 
them into his arms and blessed them, and 
said, "of such is the kingdom of heaven." 
But I will not detain my youthful reader from 
coming into the chamber of sickness, and see- 
ing this dear child die. 1 hope they may all 
die as happy as Florence, and go and live 
where she is. 

About this time, Oct. 1831, 1 was called to 
be absent from my charge on account of the 
ill health of my family. I did not see her 
again. Before my return she had left this 
world of trial for the joys of Heaven. 

The Rev. Mr. Cozzens, now settled in the 

4* 



42 MEMOIR OF P. KIDBEli. 

ministry at Marblehead, supplied my place io 
my absence, and was privileged to watch this 
little one in her hours of trial, and aid her hap- 
py spirit to its God. 

The remaining part of the narrative will be 
given in letters addressed to me by Mr. C. 

A. Warner. 

Medford, Sept. 20, 1832. 



LETTER 1 



Medford, May 1, 1832. 
Rev. and dear Sir, 

In compliance with your wishes, I shall give 
you all the information in • respect to Florence 
Kidderj which lies in my power. 

Many of the facts of this interesting case 
came under my own personal observation ; oth- 
ers were related to me by the friends of Flo- 
rence who were with her in her sickness, and 
who watched around her dying bed. 

I have no particular knowledge of her re- 
ligious experience previous to her sickness, ex- 
cept what I have received from others. Every 
thing of this kind, relating to her history, your 
own recollection will readily supply, as I un- 
derstand Florence was a hopeful subject of the 
revival, which existed in your society last sum- 
mer and fall. From what I have been able 
to learn respecting the religious character of 



44 MEMOIR OP 

this little girl, it would seem that her Heavenly 
Father, by bestowing upon her in such abun- 
dance, the riches of his grace previous to her 
sickness, had been preparing her for the deep 
afflictions through which, in his righteous prov- 
idence, he soon called her to pass. For it was. 
indeed in the morning of life, when her pros- 
pects of happiness and usefulness seemed most 
fair and promising, that she was suddenly call- 
ed to relinquish all the fond pleasures she was 
enjoying in her Sabbath school and among 
her companions, whom she was accustomed to 
meet in the little praying circle, for the pains 
and trials of that distressing sickness, some par- 
ticulars of which I will communicate in my 
next. Affectionately yours, 

S. W. COZZENS. 



LETTER II 



Medford, May 5, 1832. 
Dear Sir, 

In giving you some particular account of 
Florence, as I have been requested, so numer- 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 45 

ous and interesting are the facts, I hardly know- 
where to begin, or how to proceed. Very soon 
after her first attack, which was occasioned by 
a sudden and severe cold, the disease, which 
at first settled in the head, was found to be vi- 
olent and unyielding in its progress. From 
the beginning, she was subjected to great bod- 
ily pain, which continued with but little abate- 
ment, and with often increased intensity 
through her whole sickness. As to bodily dis- 
tress, she was indeed a sufferer in the strict 
sense of the word ; but to her, these were hght 
afflictions ; for they were w^orking out for her 
a " far more exceeding and eternal weight of 
glory." From the commencement of her sick- 
ness to her death, as I have been informed, by 
one w4io had the particular care of her, and 
who was with her most of the time, night and 
day, she was never knowm to utter a murmur- 
ing word ; or to manifest the least impatience 
under all her sufferings ; but, as another re- 
marked concerning her, " She was a pattern 
of meekness and resignation, feeling uniformly 
more for others, who were afflicted on her ac- 
count, than she did for herself." 

She spent much time in prayer. But when 



46 MEMOIil OP 

in consequence of severe distress, she felt una- 
ble, as she would sometimes say, to form a 
prayer, she requested her Christian friends to 
pray by her bedside, that she might enjoy the 
privilege of uniting with them. When others 
prayed with her and for her, she said she felt 
great satisfaction in being able to follow them 
in her mind ; and inquired with much earn- 
estness, if they thought her prayers, offered in 
that manner, would be acceptable to God. 

I have been much interested to learn with 
what peculiar satisfaction she reviewed the 
scenes, through which she passed last summer 
and fall. One day, while conversing with her 
grandmother, she said, ^' O ! grandma, how 
glad I am that I went to inquiry meetings. 
O ! you do not know, and never can know, 
how much I love God." Being asked how 
she felt, she very readily replied, "Better — 
much better ; and I believe it is because I pray 
to God every night." She often called to mind 
the sweet seasons she had enjoyed in times past, 
with her companions in religious exercises ; 
and whenever she thought of these, she would, 
for a time, seem almost to forget her sufferings, 
although they were so intense ; and would 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 47 

seem to be in an ecstacy of joy^ as she endeav- 
ored to tell how much comfort she took last 
summerj and what satisfaction it was to her 
noWj that she had conversed so much about 
personal religion with Mr. Warner, her minis- 
ter. She said she hoped Ellen (her cousin 
and intimate friend,) would never forget the 
pleasant seasons they had enjoyed in the woods 
together, w4ien they used to go away alone, 
and " read their Bible and Hymns f and she 
hoped to meet her in Heaven. She would 
often say, she knew God to be her best friend, 
and that she took " more comfort" in having 
her friends pray and read the Bible in her 
hearing, than in any thing else they could do 
for her. Other particulars of interest must be 
deferred until my next. Yours with esteem, 

S.,„ W. COZZENS. 



LETTER III. 



Medford, May 12, 1832. 
Dear Sir, 

There is one topic connected with the history 

of Florence, during her sickness, which I have 



48 MEMOIR OF 

often called to mind with special interest. It 
relates to the very clear views which she evi- 
dently entertained of Jesus Christ, as an all- 
sufficient Saviour. She uniformly expressed 
strong love, and great reverence for Jesus 
Christ, on whose atoning blood alone, she re- 
lied for salvation. Her mother, coming into 
the room one day, and seeing her in such great 
bodily distress, that the sweat stood in drops on 
her face, said to her, " Florence, my dear, how 
much you suffer ^ She looked up, and very 
cheerfully replied — " O ! ma, this is nothing — 
nothing at all, to what my dear Saviour suffer- 
ed for me. He sweat great drops of blood for 
me." 

It gave her much uneasiness to see her 
friends afflicted on her account ; and whenever 
they manifested signs of pity at witnessing her 
distress, — " Don't say a word," she would say, 
— " don't say a word, it is all right — 'tis all 
right." 

On Saturday, April 21, two days before her 
death, I visited her with a view to have par- 
ticular conversation respecting her hopes and 
prospects for eternity. I found that she was 
rapidly declining, and that th^re was very lit- 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 49 

tie prospect that she would ever again be re- 
stored. I asked her if she then felt willing to 
die, if her Heavenly Father should see fit to 
take her away. She replied, " I hope I do." 
I asked her in what she trusted for salvation ; 
— she repUedj ^' In the Saviour." It was re- 
marked to her, "You maybe assured that 
God will do all things right — and that he or- 
ders all things for your best good." ^^ O, yes ! 
yes !" was the reply ; "I know he will do all 
things right." 

At the time to which reference is here made, 
almost two months had passed away, during 
which time, her incurable disease had been 
gradually wasting the vigor of life ; and it now 
appeared to be making most rapid advances, 
in hastening the scene of her final dissolution. 
It was very easy to perceive that her flesh was 
fast wasting avv^ay ; — her strength was nearly 
exhausted, and the fitful hectic had already be- 
gun to bloom upon her cheek. Yet we did 
not anticipate that the closing scene was quite 
so near at hand as the event proved. 

On the foUov/ing Sabbath, prayers were 
offered for her in the public congregation. An 
arrangement had been previously made to in- 
5 



50 MEMOIR OF 

vite all the children who entertained hope that 
they were Christians, to meet in the vestry 
during the intermission on that day, for the 
purpose of receiving instruction, and of con- 
versing on personal religion. 

It was at the moment when I was making 
preparations to go to that meeting, that infor- 
mation was received that Florence was dying, 
and accompanied by her request that she might 
see me before she died. It was with emotions 
of no ordinary kind, you may be assured, that 
I hastened to witness a scene, which, though it 
proved not to be what we expected ; yet Avhich 
any individual might have considered himself 
highly privileged to behold ; a particular ac- 
count of which T will give you soon. 
Yours truly, 

S. W. COZZENS, 



LETTER IV. 



Medford, May 20, 1832. 
Very Dear Sir, 

It was on the 22d of April, being the Sab- 
bath, as before stated^ between the hours of 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 



51 



one and two, that Florence.was supposed to be 
dying. When I first entered the room and 
saw the family group assembled around her 
bed in this hour of affliction and trial, my own 
feelings were such as I shall not attempt mi- 
nutely to describe. The scene ^vas truly af- 
fecting. But the melancholy produced by the 
first impression at witnessing a scene like this, 
was in a moment dissipated, as I approached 
nearer, and perceived how much occasion there 
was for joy even in the midst of grief; for the 
light of Heaven seemed to be reflected from 
the face of the child. Never shall I forget 
that look — that lovely smile that played around 
those death-like features, as the deep struggle, 
w^hich we expected would be her last, passed 
away; and as the little sufferer revived; and gaz- 
ing upward in rapture, explained in an audible 
voice " All is light before me" — ^' All is light 
before me." A few moments before I entered 
the room, when, as they all supposed she was 
in the last struggles of death, with an inex- 
pressible look of holy triumph she exclaimed 
'^ O happiness : — liappiness ; — O Deatli, where 
is thy sting ? O Grave, where is thy victo- 
ry ?" — " Who can weep for her," said her af- 



52 MEMOIR OF 

flicted parents. ^^ If we weep, can we weep 
but for joy? for her condition is far better 
than ours, or that of any whom she leaves be- 
hind her.'' She had now so far revived as to 
be able to converse. The height of happiness 
to which she had been elevated had seemed to 
carry her entirely above earthly sufferings ; 
and she seemed, as it were, reluctant to lose the 
bright vision and come back again to this 
world of toil and suffering. She was soon 
asked if she felt relieved at all from her dis- 
tress ; — she calmly replied, " I am easier now, 
and expect soon to be in Heaven." She then 
seemed to be holding communion with Heav- 
en ; for with uplifted eyes : and with a look 
and tone of holy submission, she, three times, 
in an audible voice, repeated the prayer, " not 
my will, but thine^ O Lord, be done." She 
then seemed again almost to lose sight of earth, 
as she exclaimed — " Angels now stand wait- 
ing around to bear my spirit up to God." 
Surely a scene like this, needs no comment. 
We all beheld and admired — and could but 
exclaim inwardly in fullness of heart — ^O the 
wonders of grace ! — the triumphs of redeem- 
ing love ! Amid such joy as Florence had 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 53 

experienced, she seemed almost to have -for- 
gotten that the clogs of mortality had not yet 
fallen off. Her physician coming into the 
room, she conversed with him with much com- 
posure, and promptly answered all his inqui- 
ries ; although she appeared sensible that her 
body, then the seat of pain and disease^ would 
very soon be mouldering in the dust. But her 
last struggle was yet to come. She w^as to 
speak other words for the good of those, whom 
she was soon to leave behind her. She was 
yet to give her last warnings and admonitions 
to the numerous circle of friends whom she so 
tenderly loved. Oilier particulars connected 
with the occasion introduced here, I will give 
at a future time. As ever, yours, 

S. W. COZZENS. 



LETTER V. 



Medford, May 21, 1832. 
Dear Sir, 

I endeavored yesterday to give you some ac- 
count of a scene, which to me was, I think, 

*5 



V 



54 MEMOIR OF 

the most interesting that I have ever witnessed 
in the chamber of siclrness. After v/hat had 
passed as related in my last commmiicationy 
Florence seemed deeply to feel the importance 
of doing whatsoever her hand found to do, 
with her might. She appeared desirous of 
spending her last breath in the service of God; 
and in doing good to the souls around her. She 
soon called her weeping brothers and sisters 
around her dying bed, and affectionately tak- 
ing each of them by the hand ; with an in- 
expressible look of earnestness, and with a tone 
of the most persuasive tenderness, she said to 
them all — " Do love God, that you may meet 
me in Heaven." I then asked her what I 
should tell the children and youth in the Sab- 
bath school from her, as her dying message to 
them. " O !" said she, with strong emphasis, 
" O ! tell them all to love God, that they may 
die happy. Tell them all to meet me in 
Heaven." 

Her own will seemed to be swallowed up in 
the will of her kind friend and merciful Father. 
She would exclaim, even when in great bod- 
ily distress — " O God is good ; God is good ;" 
To the question, " does Christ appear precious T 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 55 

she replied, with a look indicating a joy to 
which this woiid is a stranger, " O yes ; pre- 
cious — precious ; — I shall soon be in Heaven.'' 

To her cousin Mary, who was conversing 
with her about dying, she said — " Perhaps it is 
God's will that I should be spared ;" but imme- 
diately added — " I had much rather die, than 
live, if God is willing." On the same occa- 
sion, speaking of her bodily sufferings, she 
said — " I can now bear up under pain, because 
God has prepared me for death." 

Her symptoms soon became more alarming, 
and all hopes of her recovery were now relin- 
quished. And as the hours of that holy Sab- 
bath, the events of which I have been describ- 
ing, passed away, Florence was fully sensible, 
that the remaining hours of her fleeting exist- 
ence were rapidly passing with them. This, 
to her, had been the happiest Sabbath she had 
ever seen ; although the last she ever expected 
to see on earth. It was to her, indeed a happy 
day ; for it was a day in which she had clear- 
ly and fully gazed on the brightness of that 
eternal Sabbath of rest, which had already 
dawned upon her ; — and she felt a confidence 
which all the terrors of death could not shake, 



56 MEMOIR OF 

that her disembodied spirit, would soon dwell 
amid the full blaze of its hght. 

After returning from the evening servicOj I 
called once more^ between the hours of nine 
and ten, to see Florence, as I doubted not for 
the last time in this world. The Sabbath had 
passed away, and the evening had brought 
with it no rehef as to her sufferings * and but 
very little hope was entertained, that she would 
live to see the light of another day. I found 
her still perfectly happy and peaceful in her 
mind ; entirely willing to wait until God should 
see fit to remove her from suffering. But He, 
who orders all events for his own glory, had 
yet other purposes to accomplish, through-her 
instrumentality. That night passed away, 
and upon the light of another day, Florence was 
permitted to open her eyes. The morning 
came ; but it was the time which was to termi- 
nate all her sufferings in this vale of tears. 
Further particulars must be deferred till the 
next. 

S. W. COZZENS. 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 57 



LETTER VI. 



Medford, May 2Ath, 1832. 
Dear Sir, 

Having been made acquainted with so many 
interesting circumstances in the short history 
of Florence, and having followed her to the last 
day of her sickness, I doubt not you feel anx- 
ious to hear further particulars ; especially those 
connected with the closing scene of her life. 
One fact has been related to me by her Fath- 
er, which has interested my own mind so much, 
that I shall venture to communicate it to you. 
Reference is here made to the morning on 
which Florence died. She had been distribu- 
ting among her sisters and cousins, some little 
gifts which she had desired them to accept and 
keep, as tokens of remembrance. 

She now recollected that she had some mo- 
ney which had not been disposed of She im- 
mediately thought of the benighted heathen, 
who never knew that Saviour, in whom she 
had trusted, and who now appeared to her, 



58 MEMOIR OF 

" the chiefest among ten thousand." She call- 
ed her father to her bed, and pointing him to a 
small box of hers, desired him to bring it to 
her. It was the box which contained her mo- 
ne}^ The box was brought according to her 
request. She tried to take the money out with 
her little hand ; but found herself too weak to 
succeed in the attempt. Her father, then, held 
her cold hand in his, while the pieces of mo- 
ney, as she desired, were poured into it. She 
then put them bad^ into her father's hand, and 
told him to put it all into the missionary box. 

She saw her mother standing by her bed- 
side, weeping. The little sufferer was at that 
moment too exhausted to speak. But although 
she could not speak with her tongue ; yet fee- 
ble as she was, she still found means to utter 
the strong language of that spirit, that still 
struggled within her. As she saw her moth- 
er's tears, with a bright smile upon her coun- 
tenance, but with no tear in Aer eye, she first 
looked up wishfully into her mother's face; 
and then endeavoring to lift her little hand, 
which was now already chilled with the frosts 
of death, she significantly pointed her finger 
upward, as if to say — " Mother, weep not for 



FLORENCE KIDDER, 59 

me — for there is rest in Heaven." Language 
fails in attempting to describe a scene like this* 
It was the eloquence of the soul in its last 
struggles to break away from the clogs of mor- 
tality, to seek its native Heaven. Nature was 
now almost exhausted ; and as the last hour 
approached, and the struggles of death came 
over her ; even in the last agonies, as this 
world was receding from her view, and the 
heavenly world opened in full prospect before 
her, she still talked of angels that stood waiting 
around to conduct her spirit to Heaven. And 
still she had strength to speak forth in broken 
accents, the raptures she felt in view of her 
eternal home. 

I was not with her when she died ; although 
I should have felt myself privileged to be pres- 
ent. — The remaining particulars which I will 
narrate in the next letter, were given by those 
who witnessed her triumphant departure from 
this world of sin and suffering, into the para- 
dise of God, where are pleasures forevermore. 
Affectionately yours, 

S. W. COZZENS. 



60 MEMOIR OF 



LETTER VII. 



Medford, May 25, 1832. 
Dear Sir, 

I have alreadjT^ intimated that Florence died 
in the full triumphs of faith. This is indeed 
true in an eminent degree. The same religion 
that so wonderfully supported her amid the in- 
tense bodily suffering which she endured, 
caused her finally to triumph in her last strug- 
gles. To those friends who stood around her 
in this trying time, she exclaimed; '' My suflfer- 
ings are almost over." Then looking upward, 
she said, " O Lord, come quickly." She then 
said, " I am going — I am going — Come Lord 
Jesus, come quickly — O Lord, receive me ;" — 
and, with this prayer upon her lips, she died. 

The Wednesday following, which was the 
25th of April, her funeral was attended. And 
although her body now sleeps in the dust, yet 
who can doubt that her spirit rests in Heaven. 
The green grass will indeed spring up over 
her grave ; and over her ashes the flowers of 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 61 

summer will bloom ; while her spirit is flour- 
ishing in immortal bloom : and, while her 
name on earth will long live embalmed in the 
memory of those who loved her, and who had 
the best opportunity of knowing her worth. 
All who knew the history of Florence cannot 
fail in that to see exhibited in a very remarka- 
ble degree, the happy effects of early piety. 
She seemed like a flower that only bloomed to 
die ; — which came forth and withered in an 
hour ; but not without sending forth a fra- 
grance, and exhibiting a beauty which attract- 
ed the admiration of all who beheld it. Al- 
though it withered here, yet it is now trans- 
planted into a more genial clime, where it will 
forever flourish and bloom in unfading beauty. 
I do not remember ever to have witnessed a 
case which, to my own mind, more clearly and 
more forcibly exhibits the triumphs of the 
Christian religion. Who could witness what 
was exhibited in that child, without feeling 
that the religion of Christ has a power, to 
which this world is a stranger. When I look- 
ed upon that child, only eleven years old, and 
heard her talk about dying, without seeming 
to discover the least emotion of fear ; — when I 
6 



62 MEMOIR OF 

saw her suffering so much pain without utter- 
ing a murmuring word ;— when I heard her 
telling others not to weep for her ; — when I be- 
held her looking at Death as he appeared be- 
fore her, clothed in terrors, without the least 
apparent agitation, and with such a serene 
smile on her countenance ; — when I heard 
her talk with such raptures of the joys she ex- 
perienced^ — of the preciousness of her Saviour 
—of the goodness and mercy of God^— of the 
blessedness she saw before her ; — and when I 
heard her express such longing desires to de- 
part and be with Christ ; — as I witnessed all 
this — O ! thought I ; what a lesson of instruc- 
tion does an example like this convey even to 
believers ; and those of riper years than Flo- 
rence. Indeed, what believer can witness a 
death thus triumphant, without feeling that 
his faith takes a stronger hold on things un- 
seen and eternal. 

Affectionately yours, 

S. W. CozzENs. ■ 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 63 



LETTERVIII. 

Medford, May 26, 1832. 

Dear Sir, 

At the close of my last letter, I was just in- 
dulging in a reflection or two, in view of the 
interesting case presented in the death of Flo- 
rence, as it regards the lessons of practical in- 
struction which the living ought to derive from 
an example so striking — may I not say so il- 
lustrious ? If the tendency of such an exam- 
ple should be to strengthen the faith of believ- 
ers, what conviction ought it to produce on the 
minds of unbelievers ? Could even the cold 
hearted sceptic witness a scene like that w4iich 
I have attempted to describe — could he see a 
Christian die as that child died : — and could 
he turn away from beholding it, and be a scep- 
tic still ? Or, could he have traced the pro- 
gress of that disembodied spirit in its upward 
flight, as it threw off" the clogs of mortality, and 
mounted up to its native Heaven ; — could he 
have known the rapture of that soul, as it seiz;- 



64 MEMOIR OP 

ed the golden harp to strike a note that angels 
never sung ; could he have longer doubted the 
reality — the excellency — ^the glory of that re- 
ligion which raises sinful men from the dust of 
earth to eternal blessedness in heaven ! 

Thus, my dear Sir, have I endeavored in 
this hasty and imperfect manner, to give you 
a particular account of the sickness and death 
of this little girl, of whom you have before 
spoken, with so much interest, in your letters 
to Medford. 

I cannot but indulge the hope, that this dis- 
pensation, although so deeply afflictive to all 
who had the happiness of an acquaintance 
with Florence, will be sanctified to us all in 
this place — especially to the numerous circle of 
youth and children, witli whom she was con- 
nected in the Sabbath school, and to whom, 
she being dead, still speaks. I have endeavor- 
ed faithfully to communicate to them her dying 
message, which she entrusted to me, and which 
she delivered with so much interest and con- 
cern for their spiritual welware. Yes ! Flo- 
rence has exchanged this world of sin for a 
brighter world, where pleasures never die. We 
cannot weep for her. She charged all her 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 65 

friendsj as she saw them around her dying bedj 
not to weep for her. A httle while before she 
diedj she recollected a hymn which she had 
seen, and which so fully expressed the feelings 
of her heart, that she desired it to be found and 
read. The following is the hymn. 

" Weep not for me ! 
When the spark of life is waning, 

Weep not for me. 
When the languid eye is sealing, 

Weep not for me. 
When the feeble pulse is ceasing. 
Start not at its swift decreasing ; 
'Tis the fettered soul's releasing ; 

Weep not for me. 
When the pangs of death assail me,. 

Weep not for me. , 
Christ is mine— he cannot fail me, 

Weep not for me. 
Yes, though sin and doubt endeavor 
From his love, my soul to sever, 
Jesus is my strength forever, 

Weep — weep not for me." 

With kind regards, and wishes for your per- 
sonal happiness, I remain yours, as ever, 

Samuel W. Cozzens. 
Rev. Aaron Warner. 



66 MEMOIR OF 



CHAPTER X. 



It is difficult to close this narrative, without 
expressing the wish that all children may die 
like this dear child — that they may find her 
peaceful grave, and her happy heaven. 

In the Frontispiece they may observe her, 
by the high rock, kneeling down. 

There, little child, you may see how Flor- 
ence learned to die ; there under the lofty 
tree, and in the open air, she prayed, and wept, 
and loved God. 

I cannot here omit to let little children see 
how their good parents feel, when they are 
called to lay them in their graves. Speaking 
of little Florence in a letter to me, her father 
observes. 

Medford, April 22, 1832. 
* * * * In the afternoon of this day, in- 
stead of waiting on God in his earthly courts, 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 67 

I was called to attend the dying bed of a dear 
child. Little Florence was a flower early 
matured by grace j and early transplanted from 
this world, to flourish in the garden of God, — 
just as this beautiful bud began to expand, the 
frost of death nipped it, and it now lies in the 
cold grave. Yes, our dear little Florence is 
gone from us, — rather shut from our sight, and 
lives in the paradise of God, and we are left 
to mourn — to rejoice rather^ — for although we 
weep that we shall see her face no more in the 
flesh, yet through the mercy of our Heavenly 
Father, we sorrow not as those without hope, 
for, my dear Pastor, such a death, or rather 
such a triumph over deaths and the grave. — 
O for a sense of the goodness of God. 

While her happy spirit, now just released 
from its clayey tabernacle, was taking its 
upward flight, — and while she yet lay on 
the bed of death, around which we continued 
to linger, weeping, and rejoicing, we felt it a 
duty, and a privilege, to unite in giving thanks 
to God, for all that he had done for her, and 
for us. 

May God grant, my dear Sir, as the reward 
of your efforts for her good, that you may 



68 MEMOIR OP 

meet this dear lamb of your flock, in the fold 
of the good Shepherd, and may we all so 
" love God/^ as to meet there to part no more 
forever. 

Sabbath Day^ April 29th. Mr. Coz- 
zens preached a sermon this afternoon, ad- 
dressed to children, and especially adapted 
to their capacities. Text, Psalms 34th chapter, 
11th verse. " Come ye childr^ hearken 
unto me^ I will teach you the fear of the 
LtordP Mr. C. introduced in the sermon in 
a very affecting and impressive manner, much 
of the dying and other experience of oar dear 
little Florence, God grant that it may do them 
good, and be the means of leading them so 
to " love God," that they too, " may die hap- 
py," and " meet her in Heaven." 

I come now my dear Sir, to relate another 
most afflicting dispensation of Him, who gave, 
and who hath taken away, and may the lan- 
guage of my heart be, — blessed be his name. 
I had just left the house of God, where we 
had been asking prayers that the death of our 
Florence might be sanctified to us — when I was 



FLORENCE KIDDER. 69 

met by a messenger hastening for the Doctor, 
as our little Edward, it was feared was dying. 
The little sufferer, lingered until about 4 o'clock 
Monday morning, when his spirit took its 
flight, I trust, to join his sister, who had de- 
parted just one week previous; within a few 
hours. His funeral is appointed to take place 
the same day, and hour, this week (Wednes- 
day,) that little Florence's took place last week. 

Thus my dear Sir, has our Heavenly Fath- 
er brought us to part with two of our dear little 
ones in less than one week, — but we are com- 
forted in the belief, that they are now the 
little ones of Christ in Heaven, and that 
they have gone home jirst^ — may we through 
grace follow them, and there, my dear Pastor, 
may you, and yours, and we all, meet at last 
to be forever with the Lord. 

May 2d. — We have to-day followed our dear 
little Edward to the house appointed for all liv- 
ing, he was laid beside his little sister Florence 
who had been just one week a tenant of the 
same house of death ; — w?ien the babe was de- 
posited in his last resting place, I requested that 
the hds of both coffins might be opened, and 
descended into the tomb, where rested together, 



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